Page 13 of Protected by the Alpha
Chapter 10
I’ll Go Out Stalking
Eve stumbled forward landing on her palms when Braden pushed her out of the way. Finding out Tom had orchestrated her stalking, a deception meant to make her weak and vulnerable, left Eve numb with shock. Tom had been her friend, her confidant, and she’d played right into his hands. As a human, she’d never doubted him, not once. Her naiveté had never allowed her to believe his intentions, the intentions of a police officer, were anything but honorable. She realized now, her lycan half had never trusted Tom. The more she’d let her wolf out, the less comfortable she’d become around him.
Braden’s voice in her head snapped her out of her daze.Run, Eve. Run now.
She turned in time to see Tom digging his claws into Braden’s stomach. The fresh smell of her lover’s blood overwhelmed all other scents for Eve. Tom had taken everything from her—at least from her human existence—but she’d be damned if she let him take Braden.
Tom punched and clawed at Braden with his left hand while his right continued to dig into Braden’s side. Braden transformed, matching Tom’s height and width. He clamped his teeth into Tom’s shoulder, and the gray beast let out a howl. The scent of blood and rage overpowered Eve’s senses.
Eve! I need you to be safe. I need you to live. Run!Braden wasn’t a killer, not like Tom. Eve knew his chances against the first generation lycanosapien were not good. Tom wanted to kill Eve so no one else could have her, but Braden would sacrifice himself to protect her.
Braden’s powerful maw tugged and ripped at Tom’s shoulder, while Tom’s fingers continued to dig into his stomach—claws buried inches deep in Braden’s gut. Braden punched at Tom as he shook his head like a raging pit bull. Tom’s howls of pain reduced to a whimper. Braden was winning! He ripped his head away taking a chunk of Tom’s flesh in the process.
Still, even in his weakened state, Tom continued his vicious dig into Braden’s stomach. When Braden’s intestines spilled out, Eve screamed. Braden had his teeth on Tom’s throat now, but Tom had his entire fist inside Braden. Neither man would survive.
“No,” Eve shouted. Desperation without hesitation sent her charging at the two grappling men. Bones snicked and shifted, lengthening and reshaping as fur sprouted across her skin. She launched herself at Tom’s back, but this time when he lashed out, she ducked his blow.
She’d lost her parents, the farm, her job, her home, and her human life. She wouldnotlose Braden too.
Tom’s bloody hand reached back trying to pull her off him.Success!her mind cried out. If he was trying to grab her then he was no longer eviscerating her mate. Eve punched blindly at Tom’s head. She yanked sideways, using her whole body as a counterweight, rolling Tom and herself away from Braden who’d fallen to the cave floor—his stomach a mess of gore and guts and blood.
Tom ended up on top of Eve. White, hot pain exploded in Eve’s jaw when Tom smashed her face with his bloody fist. Blood, along with Tom’s heated breath, covered her lips and cheeks.
“I can smell you, Eve.” He chuffed. “I can smell your fear, your rage. Your sex. You are covered in that filthy bastard’s fucking scent. I hope he is worth it. I hope fucking your mutt made you goddamn happy, because it’s your last act.” He took a deep breath, tasting the air around her, and sharply drew his head back. “You’re pregnant. The scent of your hormones is weak, but it’s there. A true mating. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you both.” He lifted his head, his fierce maw opening with deadly intent.
Eve shifted back to human, hoping she could reason with Tom—reason with the human she’d thought of as her friend. “Don’t do this. You don’t want to do this, Tom.”
He snapped his teeth—his saliva spattering her skin. “I hate you. I hate what you’ve done to me. I am going to enjoy every ounce of your death, the death of the life beginning inside, and the death of your lover.” He bared his teeth, his jaw widening for attack.
Eve turned her head, squeezing her eyes shut, readying herself for his death strike. A pained shriek pierced the cavern. Eve snapped her eyes open in time to see Tom’s eyes rolling back as he collapsed on top her. Standing over Tom’s body, Braden stood with a lifeless heart in his hand. He threw the organ against the wall and kicked Tom off Eve before he dropped down next to her.
His clawed fingers touched her hair, her face, her arms, and her stomach. He settled both his hands there, his half-beast looking lost and confused. His form shifted back to human and he crumpled beside Eve.
“Braden!” she cried out. He’d managed to push his intestines back into his abdomen, but the gash where Tom’s fist had entered still bled. He’d lost so much blood. So much. Eve held her hand on his belly, stemming the flow. Tom had to have torn an artery in Braden. “Don’t you die. Don’t you dare die on me.”
Braden didn’t respond. His eyes closed as his heart beat began to slow. Hot runnels of tears streamed Eve’s cheeks. She was Braden’s. He was hers. Only death could part them. Only death.No!
Instinctually, she tore the skin on her wrists, biting into the artery. She pressed her wound to Braden’s praying for a miracle. If he died, she would die. She didn’t want a life without him.
She forced her thoughts to his.When I met you, from the moment we touched, the world fell away. You are the one Braden Jackson. You are who my mamma promised would come and rock my world. Please don’t die. You are the man of my life.
When he didn’t respond again, a sob wracked Eve’s body. She lay her head on Braden’s chest, listening as his faint heartbeat stuttered to a stop. She kept her wrist pressed to his wound, fearing she was too late—praying she was wrong.
We’re having a baby.The thought penetrated her grief. It wasn’t hers.
“Braden?” She lifted her head from his chest and stared at his face. Had she put the thought there herself? Her minds way of denying the truth. She heard a muffledthump-thump. His heart? Her heart? Then again,thump-thump, thump-thump. The steady rhythm picked up as the wound in Braden’s stomach began to knit together, the blood flow completely stanched.
She placed his gorgeous but bruised face between her palms, and waited. His eyes fluttered open. “Eve.” His voice was a hoarse whisper.
The overwhelming emotion took away her breath and her ability to form words. She kissed Braden, touching as much of him as she could with her body. She had to assure herself he was all right. He was alive. They’d both managed to survive.
“The three of us,” Braden said, his voice stronger.
Oh. Yes. Was she really pregnant? Could Tom have been right?
Yes. I can smell the changes in you. I can feel them as well. Our mating was a true mating, Eve. The fact that your blood healed me is proof.
“Here,” a woman’s voice called out. “Tom’s dead, but Braden and Eve are alive.” Eve recognized the voice as Lizzy’s. They must have tracked Tom to the cave. Would the tribe punish Braden for Tom’s death?
Braden brushed her hair away from her face. “We’ll be fine,” he said. He sat up and drew her into his arms as a group of men and women entered the cave and gathered Tom’s body. “I love you, Eve. I don’t know why or how you managed to find your way into my life and my heart, but I’m never letting you go.”
Eve ran her fingers up his back, kneading his muscles, still reassuring herself he was okay. “Thank God,” she finally said. She let a smile play on her lips. But to his thoughts she added,I love you, Braden Jackson, and I’m never letting you go, either.
